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Introduction: Acute glomerulonephritis includes renal diseases in which immunologic mechanism triggers inflammation and proliferation of glomerular tissue that can result in damage to the basement membrane, proliferation of mesangium, capillary endothelium. Objectives: The objective of this study is to know the clinical profile and immediate outcome of acute glomerulonephritis in hospitalized children. Material & Methods: The study was done in Chittagong Medical College Hospital Pediatric Unit during the period of June 2007 to February 2008. All patients admitted with AGN, with or without complications were included in this study. Diagnostic criteria were scanty urine (infrequent and less than normal in amount as stated by the parents), swelling, high colored urine with or without albuminuria, no past history of similar attack and microscopic or naked eye haematuria. Criteria of discharge from the hospital were absence of puffiness and oedema, adequate urine formation, absence of heart failure and hypertensive encephalopathy. These were taken as clinical recovery. No long-term follow up was done. Results: Seventy-eight cases of acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) in children under 12 years of age were studied. Male to female ration 3:2. Scanty urine (84.0%), puffy face (88.5%) h, haematuria (80.0%), hypertension (82.5%), heart failure (11.5%) convulsion (14%) anuria (3.8%), RBC (92.3%), RBC cast (41%), albumin one (+) (52.6%) two + (14.1%) three + (14.1%), raised s. creatinine was (25.6%), blood urea (26.9%). Four patients were died. Among them three was due to hypertension and heart failure. One due to the development of acute renal failure. History of skin infection like scabies was present in 61.4% patient. Conclusion: Skin infection is the commonest cause of acute glomerulonephritis. Nephritic presentation (scanty urine oedema, haematuria, hypertension and heart failure) was the commonest mode of presentation. Immediate prognosis was excellent- Long term follow up is recommended.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to characterize poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and nanophase hydroxyapatite (nHA) / PLGA coatings on magnesium (Mg) substrates before and after immersion in revised simulated body fluid (rSBF) under standard cell culture conditions. The OCT images clearly showed: the surface of the coatings, the metallic surface underneath the coatings, the presence of a dispersed phase within the polymer matrix, and defects and structural changes to the coatings. This study demonstrated the potential utility of OCT for performing quality assurance tests and for tracking the physical effects of degradation upon biomedical implants due to its ability to rapidly render easily interpreted images of sub-surface structure in a non-destructive manner.

Molecular mechanisms of sepsis-associated acute lung injury (ALI) are poorly defined. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent vascular permeability and mitogenic factor, it might contribute to the development of ALI in sepsis. Thus, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) endotoxemic rat model, we studied the timeline (1, 3, 6, and 10 h) of pulmonary VEGF expression and its signaling machinery. Levels of pulmonary VEGF and its angiogenic-mediating receptor, Flk-1, were downregulated by LPS in a time-dependent manner; levels of plasma VEGF and its permeability-mediating receptor, Flt-1, in contrast, was upregulated with time. In addition, blockade of Flt-1 could improve the downregulated pulmonary VEGF level and attenuate the elevated plasma and pulmonary levels of TNF-α, followed by improvement of arterial oxygenation and wet-to-dry weight ratio of the lung. Expression of signaling, pro- and or apoptotic factors after LPS administration were as follows: phosphorylated Akt, a downstream molecule was downregulated time dependently; endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels were significantly reduced; pro-apoptotic markers caspase 3 and Bax were upregulated whereas levels of Bcl-2 were downregulated. The present findings show that VEGF may play a role through the expression of Flt-1 in LPS-induced ALI. Moreover, downregulation of VEGF signaling cascade may account for LPS-induced apoptosis and impaired physiological angiogenesis in lung tissues, which in turn may contribute to the development of ALI induced by LPS.

Sugar alcohols (SAs) are widely used in various food products because of their benefits on health. The present study investigated the effects of 7% sorbitol or 7% lactitol on nutrient metabolism in cecectomized (CTx) and normal rats. After 16 days of feeding with the experimental diets, food intake was not significantly different, but body weight was significantly decreased in the lactitol-fed groups compared with their respective control groups. The concentration and accumulation of fat in the carcass and the concentration of gut ammonia nitrogen were significantly decreased in both groups of rats fed SAs, and these effects were significantly higher (P < .05) in CTx rats than in normal rats. Blood urea nitrogen concentration was significantly decreased in the SA-fed groups compared with their control group of normal rats. Lactitol, but not sorbitol, significantly decreased the rate of protein accumulation and the concentration of blood urea nitrogen, respectively, in normal and CTx rats. These data suggest that sorbitol and lactitol can reduce body fat as well as fatty liver condition. Moreover, lactitol is more effective in reducing the parameters studied, which are major risk factors associated with chronic hepatic encephalopathy.

Summary When a moderate heat (75–95 °C) and pressure (100 MPa) treatment (MHPT) was applied to potato, there were changes in texture, colour and tissue sloughing. Water-soluble pectin release was determined and related to potato tissue firmness. Potato texture, after MHPTs at 75–85 °C, was firmer than that after heat treatments (HT). However, the firmness was almost the same in the MHPTs and HTs at 90 and 95 °C, and cooking at 100 °C for 20 min. The release of pectic substances was lower in MHPTs when compared with HTs at 75–85 °C and atmospheric pressure. There were almost no differences in colour between the treatments, and tissue sloughing was slightly higher in MHPTs. These results indicate that MHPT could be an effective alternative to conventional thermal or ultra-high-pressure processing. It provides higher food quality when texture, colour and tissue sloughing of potato are measured.

It was reported that moderate heat (

Six caffeoylquinic acid derivatives of sweetpotato leaves, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. were identifiedand quantified using 1389 genotypes collected worldwide. These were divided into 3 categories based on the leafpolyphenol content: high, medium, and low polyphenol accumulator. RP-HPLC analysis was used to quantifycaffeic acid, chlorogenic acid (3-o-caffeoylquinic acid), 3,4-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-o-caffeoylquinicacid, 4,5-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4,5-tri-o-caffeoylquinic acid. The caffeic acid and derivatives were posi-tively correlated with the total polyphenol contents, and the correlation coefficients varied widely among thedifferent categories. The caffeoylquinic acid derivatives showed higher DPPH-radical scavenging activity (%),and higher antimutagenicity by showing effectively inhibiting the reverse mutation induced by Trp-P-1 on Salmonella typhimurium TA 98.Keywords: sweetpotato leaf, polyphenol, caffeic acid derivatives, antioxidant, antimutagenicity, physiological function

Senna singueana is currently used in the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in Nigeria. The present study examined the anti-diabetic activity of the Senna singueana acetone fraction (SSAF) of stem bark in a type 2 diabetes (T2D) rat model.Crude ethyl acetate extract of the Senna singueana stem bark was fractionated with various solvents and the acetone fraction was selected for in vivo studies based on the high α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities. In the in vivo study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with T2D and treated with the SSAF at 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight. Several T2D-related parameters were measured in the study.After 4 weeks of intervention, non-fasting blood glucose concentrations were significantly decreased and the glucose tolerance ability was significantly improved in the SSAF treated groups compared to the diabetic control group. Serum insulin concentrations, pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-β) and liver glycogen were significantly (P0.05) increased while serum alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and urea were significantly decreased in the SSAF treated diabetic rats compared to the diabetic control group. Though insignificantly (P0.05), other T2D-induced abnormalities such as food and fluid intake, body weight, serum lipids, serum fructosamine level and peripheral insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also partially ameliorated by the SSAF treatment.Data of this study suggest that orally administered SSAF could ameliorate most of the T2D-induced abnormalities in a T2D model of rats.

Easy access to rodent islets and insulinoma cells and the ease of measuring Ca(2+) by fluorescent indicators have resulted in an overflow of data that have clarified minute details of Ca(2+) signaling in the rodent islets. Our understanding of the mechanisms and the roles of Ca(2+) signaling in the human islets, under physiological conditions, has been hugely influenced by uncritical extrapolation of the rodent data obtained under suboptimal experimental conditions. More recently, electrophysiological and Ca(2+) studies have elucidated the ion channel repertoire relevant for Ca(2+) signaling in the human islets and have examined their relative importance. Many new channels belonging to the transient receptor potential (TRP) family are present in the beta-cells. Ryanodine receptors, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate channel, and Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release add new dimension to the complexity of Ca(2+) signaling in the human beta-cells. A lot more needs to be learnt about the roles of these new channels and CICR, not because that will be easy but because that will be difficult. Much de-learning will also be needed. Human beta-cells do not have a resting state in the normal human body even under physiological fasting conditions. Their membrane potential under physiologically relevant resting conditions is approximately -50 mV. Biphasic insulin secretion is an experimental epiphenomenon unrelated to the physiological pulsatile insulin secretion into the portal vein in the human body. Human islets show a wide variety of electrical activities and patterns of [Ca(2+)](i) changes, whose roles in mediating pulsatile secretion of insulin into the portal vein remain questionable. Future studies will hopefully be directed toward a better understanding of Ca(2+) signaling in the human islets in the context of the pathogenesis and treatment of human diabetes.

We have developed a convenient two-step procedure for the synthesis of 3-ethoxycarbonyl indoles from commercially available materials. The two-step procedure involves the synthesis of 2-aryl-3-hydroxypropenoic acid ester, followed by a catalytic reduction. This method is efficient, simple, and selective.

Several commercial Lewis acids, including those of the Bronsted type, specifically HBF(4).OEt(2), are able to catalyze the reaction between aromatic aldehydes and ethyl diazoacetate to produce 3-hydroxy-2-arylacrylic acid ethyl esters and 3-oxo-3-arylpropanoic acid ethyl esters. Reactions catalyzed by the iron Lewis acid [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(+)(CO)(2)(THF)]BF(4)(-) (i.e., 1) have the best yields and greatest ratio of 3-hydroxy-2-arylacrylic acid ethyl ester. The product distribution of 1 is not affected in the presence of Proton Sponge, but is dependent on temperature and the nature of the substrate aldehyde, whereas the activity of HBF(4).OEt(2) is affected by the presence of Proton Sponge and is reactive at temperatures as low as -78 degrees C. Consequently, both 1 and HBF(4).OEt(2) are valuable catalysts in producing important 3-hydroxy-2-arylacrylic acid ethyl esters as precursors to biologically active compounds.

A comparative study on mineral profile, water content, solid content and ash contents were done on the skin of the leaves at three different ages of Aloe indica plants. Fatty acid analysis and screening of antibacterial sensitivity against two bacteria were also carried out. Mineral profile was evaluated by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and Flame photometer. Whereas the esterified fatty extract analysis was done by GC/MS spectrophotometer. Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium were found to be present as major minerals whereas zinc, copper, silver, phosphorous, chromium were found as trace elements. No arsenic was found to be present in any of the samples. The amount of different mineral contents exists in the order of 1 year < 2 years> 3 years. A comparative study of the mineral contents of the skin with the fillet was also done. Percent compositions of the fatty acid contents were found to be very different in different maturity skin extracts. Skin comprises higher proportion of solid and ash content and lower proportion of water content than the fillet. Leaves of 2 year ages plants contained higher proportion of solid content than both of the 3 year and 1 year ages plants leaves. The 80% ethanol extract of the skin showed antimicrobial sensitivity in the order of 3 years > 2 year l> 1year ages of plants. Keywords: Aloe indica, Mineral contents, Fatty acid analysis, Antimicrobial sensitivity. Â Â Â doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i4.2237 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(4), 467-482, 2008

In the north-eastern part of Dhaka the 'Turag River' extends over Ashulia thana with a few branches. The north-eastern part of Ashulia thana mainly constitute low lands with a physiography of Madhupur Tract interlaced with Brahmaputra Floodplain. Monsoon extends over these lands from May to October and from July to October these lands remain flooded with a water depth of more than 180 cm to less than 275 cm due to surface runoff of rain water and overflow of the river canals. The area under water during this four month period can be used for economic applications such as various types of fishery as well as enhancing the present recreational applications. For these purposes the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the water are studied to evaluate its suitability for the applications. The study was held over the period of July through December, 2006, samples being taken once every month. The physical parameters covered transparency, odor, temperature, salinity, EC, TSS, and TDS. The chemical parameters of water studied were pH, DO, BOD 5 , COD, hardness, NO 2 - --N, NO 3 - --N, PO 4 3- --P, SO 4 2- --S, Cl-, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Hg. Among the biological parameters 'phytoplankton' and 'zooplankton' were qualitatively identified in microscopic observation up to genera. From July to October the water was transparent and of good odor, temperature ranged from 28.2°C to 24.6°C, salinity within 0.58 to 0.83 mg/L, EC within 250 to 608 ? mho/cm, TSS 0.42 to 0.82 mg/L, and TDS within 2.8 to 5.2 mg/L. Among the chemical parameters, pH ranged from 6.6 to 7.4, DO within 6.4 to 6.9 mg/L, BOD 5 within 1.5 to 3.28 mg/L, COD within 3.04 to 12.89 mg/L, hardness 26.08 to 37.5 mg/L, NO 2 --N from undetectable to maximum 0.562 mg/L, NO 3 --N within 0.539 to 2.158 mg/L, PO 4 3 --P 2.35 to 2.75 mg/L, SO 4 2 --S 0.23 to 0.29 mg/L, Cl- 1.65 to 6.16 mg/L, Na 3.6 to 12.5 mg/L, K 9.7 to 11.5 mg/L, Ca 6.52 to 14.82 mg/L, Fe 0.1269 to 0.5062 mg/L, Ni 0.028 to 0.050 ?g/L, Cu 0.028 to 0.043 mg/L, Zn 0.023 to 0.048 ?g/L, Cd 0.0023 to 0.0043 ?g/L, Pb 0.043 to 0.093 ?g/L, and Hg was not detected at ppb level. Among the biological parameters a number of phytoplankton were identified covering the classes of Bacillariophyceae , Chlorophyceae , Euglenophyceae , and Cyanophyceae . The zooplanktons included the orders Cladocera and Copepoda within the class Crustacea of phylum Arthropoda . Key words: Freshwater ecology, Water resource management Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(4), 377-396, 2007

In Bangladesh, the tannery solid wastes are converted to protein-concentrate to be used as poultry feed, fish feed, and in production of organic fertilizers. Over the last several years it is a common phenomenon in the largest tanning area of the country, the Hazaribagh tannery area at the south-east part of Dhaka city. One of the major concerns of these activities is the heavy metals, especially chromium, used in the tanning processes. A total of 18 samples were collected to study the heavy metal status of protein-concentrate production in the tanning area at various stages from the source to the final product, and to compare this with the imported ones. The various types of solid waste processing for protein-concentrate production were covered in sampling, and along with the heavy metal status these processes were studied comprehensively. The maximum chromium content of the solid waste was found to be 3.2 %. The final products sampled at two different places contained as high as 2.49 % and 1.94 % chromium. Cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury contents of all samples were also determined. The detected maximum and minimum concentrations of these elements were found to be: 3.888 ppm and 0.991 ppm for cadmium, 30.114 ppm and 7.577 ppm for lead, 2.212 ppm and 0.099 ppm for arsenic, and 13.916 ppm and 0.166 ppm for mercury. Key words: Heavy metal, Food chain, Ecotoxicology, poultry feed. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(4), 397-416, 2007

Poultry is one of the major protein sources for people in Bangladesh. It is a promising sector. It requires large scale feed production activities. There are various sources of raw materials for poultry feed production. In many ways these sources can be associated with anthropogenic heavy metal pollution. It is better to monitor any probable propagation of heavy metals into the food chain through the final feeds rather than the various raw materials for feeds. Three widely used feeds - Usha, Fresh, and Saudi-Bangla feeds were selected for the study. Cadmium, lead, arsenic, mercury, selenium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, and zinc contents of all samples were measured. The detected maximum and minimum concentrations of these elements were found to be: 0.1852 ppm and 0.0232 ppm for cadmium, 20.6498 ppm and 0.6019 ppm for lead, 0.7640 ppm and 0.0069 ppm for arsenic, 0.0579 ppm and 0.0116 ppm for mercury, 0.0347 ppm and 0.0069 ppm for selenium, 5.7875 ppm and 0.0926 ppm for chromium, 302.2001 ppm and 0.0695 ppm for manganese, 5.1625 ppm and 0.0125 ppm for nickel, 37.5725 ppm and 0.0463 ppm for copper, and 422.3023 ppm and 0.0232 ppm for zinc. The "Poultry Feed Reference Standards, February 2002", prepared by Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Govt. of the People's Republic of Bangladesh contains no standards for the heavy metals as contaminants into poultry feeds which demands immediate attention. Key words: Heavy metal, Poultry feed, Environmental health. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(4), 465-474., 2007

The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol crude extracts of the two different plant parts (leaves and bark) of Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae) were screened for cytotoxicity by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and the crude methanol extract of the bark was screened for antioxidant activity using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The petroleum ether extract of the bark showed significant cytotoxic activity with the LC50 value 8.12 μg/ml compared to vincristine sulphate (LC50 0.33 μg/ml). On the other hand, the methanol crude extract of the bark showed mild antioxidant activity with the IC50 value 598.02 μg/ml compared to ascorbic acid (IC50 70.985 μg/ml). Above results suggest moderate cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of the extract. Key Words: Mirabilis jalapa, Nyctaginaceae, Cytotoxicity, DPPH, Antioxidant.     doi:10.3329/sjps.v1i1.1814 S. J. Pharm. Sci. 1(1&2): 85-88

The study was carried out to assess the impacts of textile effluents on aquatic plants by using hydroponic culture. Effluent water of three textile industries and effluent free water were collected from Savar region. The higher contents of pH (10.47), total suspended solids (1407.33 mg/L), total dissolved solids (19014 mg/L) and biochemical oxygen demand (735 mg/L) were recorded in industrial effluents comparing with control. The lowest content of DO in industrial effluents (0.87 mg/L) was much lower than the control (5.65 mg/L). Hydroponic test showed that 100, 75, 50, 25 and 1% textile effluents caused the death of Pistia stratiotes L. and Ludwigia adscendens L. within 1-4, 2- 6, 3-9, 5-12 and 14-17 days, respectively. When P. stratiotes was grown in 100% effluent water its concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn were 8.00, 1.4375, 189.06, 1843.1, 5.075 and 261.87 ppm, respectively and the test species died within 1 - 3 days. When L . adscendens was grown in 100% effluent water, its concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn were 7.25, 0.975, 312.87, 1621.2, 5.0125 and 138.75 ppm, respectively and the test species died within 2-4 days. The uptake of heavy metals increased with raising effluent concentration comparing with control culture. The uptake of Cr, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn were significantly higher at 50%, 75% and 100% (p = 0.01** at 1% level of significance) effluent which caused the death of both test species. Key words: Textile effluents; Pistia stratiotes L.; Ludwigia adscendens L.; Hydroponic culture. DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i1.5172 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(1) , 9-16, 2010

In Bangladesh, among the routes of chromium eco-toxicity, feeds and fertilizer production from tanned skin-cut wastes is the most direct one leading to food chain contamination. The tanning industries of Hazaribagh are processing some 220 metric tons of hide a day with an associated release of 600 - 1000 Kg of tanned skin-cut waste (SCW) resulting from per ton processed hide. The SCW are protein-rich and are unscientifically used to produce protein-concentrates for poultry and fish feeds, and organic fertilizer. In view of the facts, a huge migration of chromium can happen into poultry products, fish and vegetables, and further bio-magnify into food chain. The target population of this phenomenon is also huge. Regional bio-concentration of chromium was investigated in commercially produced chicken eggs. Though the routes of distribution of this hugely produced protein-concentrates from SCW are unknown, eggs were sampled from Dhaka and its nearby other seven districts covering the central region of Bangladesh. Twelve eggs were randomly sampled from each district's egg stock market while albumen and yolk in each egg were studied separately for all studies. Out of the 192 samples from 96 eggs, dry weight basis mean chromium concentration was found to be 1.9016 ppm with a sample standard deviation of 0.1502. The concentration levels were ranged from maximum of 19.8051 ppm to undetectable levels. Single poultry egg was found to contain a mean chromium content of 23.3809 μg, which exceeds adequate daily dietary intake of children up to 8 years of age as well as corresponds to major part for other age groups. The region-wise physical properties of the eggs were also studied which included USDA size grading by whole weight at raw condition, whole weight ratio of raw condition to complete boiled condition, weight ratio of boiled shell-albumen-yolk, moisture content of albumen of boiled eggs, and moisture content of yolk of boiled eggs. The mean whole weights of eggs at raw condition were within the range of 39.9568 g ('peewee' as per USDA size grading) to 62.4047 g ('large' as per USDA size grading), the mean whole weight ratio of raw condition to complete boiled condition ranged between "1 : 0.9704" to "1 : 0.9782", the minimum weight ratio of boiled shell-albumen- yolk for all sample classes were ranged from "1 : 2.0714 : 1.1549" to "1 : 4.8810 : 2.0677" whereas the maximum weight ratio ranged from "1 : 3.1933 : 1.4557" to "1 : 7.8084 : 3.3818", the mean moisture content of albumen of boiled eggs varied within the range of 82.8876% to 84.7636%, and the mean moisture content of yolk of boiled eggs were between 50.6563% to 52.5124%. These properties are of importance for local-level as well as basic researches on poultry. Key words: Heavy metal bio-concentration, Ecotoxicology, Egg science doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i1.2710 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(1), 11-30, 2009